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it just screws on. there is a seam about about an inch up between the conical base and the removable antenna portion. feel for the seam (run your nail up starting from the body), grasp just above the seam, and turn gently. i believe it turns counterclockwise but im not 100%. be gentle - ive heard some people have had it break (although i remove mine daily and have never broken it)

Thanks all for the replies. I twisted CCW however it seems like this connection is so seized that the rubber is spinning around the metal thread and therefore not coming off. I even hit it with some liquid wrench and may try one more time in the morning. All I want to do is get my car cover on without bending the antenna. I'm sure there is a replacement antenna thread on here somewhere...

Thanks all for the replies. I twisted CCW however it seems like this connection is so seized that the rubber is spinning around the metal thread and therefore not coming off. I even hit it with some liquid wrench and may try one more time in the morning. All I want to do is get my car cover on without bending the antenna. I'm sure there is a replacement antenna thread on here somewhere...

The antenna is not very high. Some car covers have a small hole where the antenna is, or you can punch a small hole and just put the cover down without damaging the antenna.

Cut the rubber off down to the metal so you can get a grip on it and twist it off. Just don't cut the rubber on the base.

My car came with a busted long antenna, I had similar problems getting it off so I went to town on it with a knife. Unfortunately I didn't know where the base ended and where the antenna started so I effed up my base too. Not too big a deal as the rubber on the base was pretty worn. Ended up with a new base and shorty antenna. If you end up in the same predicament no big deal.

The shorty antenna looks 100% better than the long one it had on it and I haven't had any problems with radio reception.

If you do end up having to put a new base on, it can be confusing on how to get it off. You will have to remove your trunk panel on that side, then feel around and you will find something that feels like a rectangular circuit board, there is a hole in the middle of this board, that hole is where the nut goes that holds the base on, get a small ratchet with extension and remove the nut which will loosen the circuit board and allow you to remove the antenna base. Then just install in reverse order.

Thanks Aaron. I like the look of the shorty antenna. If I keep my original base (2001 bmw 330ci convert), and just upgrade the antenna with the shorty, will they match? i.e. will the transition between the new short antenna and the factory base be smooth and seamless like it is now with my factory antenna?

Sorry, that is the best pic I have of the antenna on this comp. If you want it seamless I would recommend getting a new base from ECS, it is only $12 and it will look better. My original base was sort of a smooth rubber texture. If you look closely at the link I posted from ECS, the base I bought is more of a hard textured plastic. This texture matches the antenna I linked perfectly. They go together perfect and there is no seam.

I suppose you could order just the antenna and then see if you like the matchup, but ECS is a bit spendy on the shipping so I try to order parts in big bundles from them, so if it were me I would just order the base as well for the $12.

Sorry, I can answer that for sure. Like I said I hacked my base pretty good before I was able to get them apart. But the shorty I linked is OEM BMW so I imagine it should be seamless. If your base looks like the one I linked is should be fine. I would imagine it will be seamless, just might be a bit different on texture.

ETA: definitely wouldn't be a big gap or anything, pretty sure the bases are standard.

I had mine seize and shear off when I tried to remove it (the third or fourth time I tried... With channel locks). I it's really on there, and you know it'll snap, buy a replacement base... Not too hard to fit if you have some patience, a mirror, flashlight and some luck. I posted a fairly elaborate response to a question about how my base and stubby install went down a ways back if you search. All in all, the new base was like 15 bucks, if that. And I bought the stubby from ECS. Never had any change in reception , even after shearing the original off. Also, the stubby fits under the factory car cover without having to make a hole and put in a grommet. Good luck!